C9
This was the most awkward mealtime of Caroline's life. Once she used to sit here, with her friends and family with Damon on her side and now she was sitting here with the Mikaelsons family and her own and Klaus sitting right next to her. She had barely said a word to anyone after Damon had left. It was like he took a piece of her with him. The happy part. The one that made her talk and laugh and smile.
She had met her parents but she didn't shed a single tear. Bonnie understood her friend's situation and she chose to stay behind with Caroline instead of running off like Damon.
"Caroline, love, you haven't touched your breakfast" Klaus spoke as he ate himself and looked at Caroline's plate. She was poking the food on her plate and hadn't had a single bite of it.
Everyone on the table eyed the blonde princess who just wiped her mouth with a napkin delicately. "I'm not hungry. Excuse me" she said standing up and raced out of the dining room.
Klaus sighed and dropped the cutlery in his hand onto the plate with a clash tiredly. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Caroline was not responding the way he wanted her to or rather the way he expected her to. She hadn't said a word to anyone regarding Damon and refused to talk about anything.
"Well, isn't anyone of you lot going after her?" Klaus asked annoyed. They weren't even moving to check if she was alright. Did they even care about her?
Bonnie shook her head and looked at the Queen who was glaring daggers at Klaus. "We know her better than anyone. She needs her time and space. After all we cannot just go there and tell her that everything's going to be alright when it obviously isn't." Elizabeth spoke sternly and went back to sipping her juice.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Klaus growled.
"She's going to marry you. Everything is going to be far from alright" Bonnie answered fixing him a death glare.
Klaus sighed but it was Finn who spoke up, "If you all keep demoralizing her she will never come out of her … current state" he said and narrowed his eyes at the Bennett.
"You do not understand. Losing Damon is a lot for her to take in…" She started but was cut off by the Queen who threw her a stern look.
"Bonnie" she said as a warning and the dark skinned princess had the decency to look down embarrassed at what she was almost about to reveal.
Klaus and Elijah both noticed the exchange between the two women but the older Mikaelson nodded at his brother before continuing, "If there is anything about her, I assure you my brother has every right to know" he reasoned but his tone was authoritative and firm. Much like his personality.
"My daughter is not some property that everything that has happened to her shall be revealed to a man as him" the Queen said angrily before storming out just like her daughter. The King followed his wife who was obviously upset by the current predicament they were stuck in.
Once Bonnie realized she was alone in the dining hall with the curious Mikaelson family she tried to leave but Kol blocked her way.
"Ah ah ah!" he tooted. "Take a seat. My brother needs some information from you darling" he said eyeing her up and down.
"I will not reveal anything to you" Bonnie spat at him with disgust.
Elijah could understand that there would be further problems if he didn't intervene now so he walked up to the brunette princess, "Bonnie, if I may" he asked for permission from Bonnie who nodded in approval.
"We do not seek any trouble but do you not think that it would be wise for your friend and my brother to start a relationship based on truth. If you come clean with the truth right now, all problems can be solved before the wedding however if dishonesty is found after marriage, it causes even the greatest relationships to fail" he advised her and narrowed his eyes watching her reaction closely. He was sure his little speech had done the trick and she would come clean to them any moment.
And he was always correct.
"Fine" she said and dragged herself back to the chair across Klaus. "Everyone is always so protective over Caroline because something happened 3 years ago and it changed all of our lives" she said and tears formed in her eyes as she went back into that dreadful memory.
"What happened?" Klaus asked. He always thought that maybe both Stefan and Damon had feelings for Caroline. It was obvious Damon more than Stefan but he thought that was all.
Bonnie breathed in deeply. "All of us had this habit of sneaking out of the castle at night and doing something wild and crazy. Caroline's parents always knew but they allowed us our fun and let us live our lives the way we wanted" she said and took another deep breath.
"One night Katherine, Elena and Caroline were walking together and I was with Damon and Stefan. We didn't notice them get into an abandoned little cottage. It wasn't far from where we were so we didn't mind when we even did notice them. I don't know what happened next because we all had a little too much to drink that night but one minute we were talking the next the house was caught up in flames. The whole cottage was burning and it fell apart." Bonnie said and braced herself for the next part.
"Caroline and Katherine had managed to get Elena out by pushing her through the safest exit but when the cottage collapsed the wood blocked their last possible exit. But Damon was quick to act. He called for help from the guards and we all knew that some of the guards were involved in the fire" she stated and looked up to see confusion on the youngest Mikaelson's face.
"What do you mean?" He asked confused.
"The fire was set up by someone to kill- she started but was cut off by Klaus.
"The people adore Caroline. Why would someone want to kill her?" he asked genuinely confused and worried. If someone had tried to kill her then, anyone could try again. She needed more protection. But from what he gathered the people treated her like a Goddess then who would want to kill her?
"If you would let me finish" Bonnie hissed annoyed. When all the brothers nodded she breathed in and continued.
"It wasn't to kill Caroline. It was meant for Katherine. But Care being the selfless idiot she was gave Katherine a chance to escape and that little bitch didn't even try to bring Caroline out with her. She just jumped at the chance of staying alive." She said in a venomous tone almost reminding herself to strangle Katherine again.
Elijah was a little taken aback by the story. He knew that Katerina would do anything to survive but he never thought she would step over her friend's life to do so.
"Katherine Pierce only looks out for herself" Kol mused in and smirked at Klaus who was deep in thought. Probably thinking of a hundred ways to kill Katherine.
"Damon tried to get in but there was just no way and Caroline was trapped. We all told her to keep her eyes open. She kept on coughing but smiled at us and said everything was going to be fine and she loved us all. There was so much smoke that we could barely see. She fell to the floor unconscious and we all thought she was dead. But she wasn't. She saw how Damon screamed and cried for her. He even tried to get into the fire but Stefan kept him in his place. After the fire died down, Caroline's body was never found" Bonnie said and a few tears escaped her eyes.
"We all kept our distance from Katherine but Damon was gone mad after Caroline was gone. It had been only two days and he was never sober and he hated everyone and everything. He was going to kill Katherine. We all knew that much but Damon thought of a better revenge. He visited the ruined cottage again and burned the skin of his wrist and swore that he would destroy Katherine" she said remember when Stefan had told them all of this after coming from Damon's chambers.
"What happened to Caroline all those days? Where was she?" Klaus asked curiously trying to ignore the intensity of Damon's feelings for his betrothed.
"The chief of that village near the border saw Caroline's body in the burning house from the backside and he saved her. But he didn't see the front where we were and took Caroline back to his village." She explained and waited for the information to sink in. "Caroline looks a lot like her ancestor Victoria Forbes and when the elders from the village saw her, they knew they had to help her so they kept her and healed her. She was there for one week but she was very weak to return herself so she decided to wait till help came or rescue but everyone had stopped looking for her." She said. "Everyone except Damon" she added with a smile and a hint of adoration.
"What happened next?" Kol asked interestedly. This kingdom had far more adventure than the Mikaelson territory and he liked adventure.
"Damon found Caroline but didn't admit his feelings for her. Rather he went for Katherine and flirted with her. She took the bait and well, Damon gave her the worst possible year of her life and after she was disgraced, even though half of it was her own fault, she ran" Bonnie finished up not feeling one bit of remorse for what Damon did to that selfish bitch.
"Excuse me please. I need some time" Elijah said sheepishly and practically ran out of the door thinking of how Katherine could do such a thing to her own friend. Would she not even risk her life for someone who loved her this much? Would she ever truly love anyone?
"I'll go talk to him" Finn said and excused himself leaving Bonnie alone with the younger Mikaelson brothers.
"Tell me more" Klaus said looking at Bonnie curiously.
Bonnie's eyebrows furrowed together and a frown formed on her face, "I'm not here to tell you tales about the life of my best friend. I just told you this because I think that you should know what you've taken away from her" she almost screamed at him and stormed out of the room.
Both brothers sat in silence until Kol got up and looked at his elder brother, "I think it's time we head back. After all we have to show your pretty little wife just how we Mikaelsons live" he said proudly and smirked at Klaus who looked annoyed and jealous at Kol's description of his betrothed.
"Fine. Get everything packed. I'll go inform Caroline" he ordered his little brother who rolled his eyes at his brother's lack of wittiness.
Klaus went straight to Caroline's bedchambers but he didn't find her there so he went to look for her in the gardens. As expected, he found her there sitting on the ground with her knees tucked under her chin and arms encircling her knees altogether. She seemed to be deep in thought and didn't notice him come and sit next to her.
He cleared his throat to capture her attention, "We'll be leaving today. Naturally you will come with me. You should pack whatever you think necessary the rest I will provide for you at the Mikaelson castle." He said and looked ahead of him at the morning sun.
She turned to face him with a frown on her face, "Why do I have to come with you now? I thought I'd join you in a week or so" she asked him worriedly. She really didn't want to go to a place where she knew no one and all the people were famous for being stern. Mikael, father of Klaus and current King, was a hard and fierce man. His wife Ester, Queen of Mikaelsons was known to be a bitter and equally stern woman. She had met all of the brothers except Henrik who was the youngest. Then they had a sister, Rebekah. There wasn't much she knew about Rebekah but all she had heard from Elena was that Rebekah played with men and was very protective over her brothers. That really didn't bode well with Caroline because she was going to marry one of them.
Klaus turned to her and smiled at her obvious worries, "Do not fret love. My family will be on their best behavior. Besides you're going to be a part of my family now. Why delay the inevitable?" he questioned softly.
She sighed and turned her head at the other side to hide the tears welling up in her eyes from him but he was having none of it. He brought his hand to her cheek and moved it to face her softly. He then placed both of his hands on her cheeks and noticed how hard she was trying to not cry in front of him.
"Caroline you have to give us a chance. Things will not work if you do not cooperate" he told her softly and a few of her tears fell on his hands.
Caroline didn't care if the tears were streaming down her face in front of the man she hated but she needed to get away, "Please don't do this. Damon will never forgive me" she pleaded with him even though she already knew the answer. She had a made a deal with him and she couldn't just expect him to give her everything she wanted.
Klaus sighed in frustration. Damon. Damon. Damon. That was all this girl could think about. What about herself? What about him? He'd treat her like a Queen and cherish her in ways no one could ever fathom.
"Damon is no longer your concern sweetheart. I am" he said not with as much gentleness and softness as before. "We're leaving in an hour. Say your goodbyes" he ordered and stood up. He only stopped there for a moment before he bent down placed a somewhat bitter-sweet kiss on the top of Caroline's head who remained rigid.
After he was out of sight, Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes and moved towards her parents' room. He was right. Damon was no longer going to be her concern. Klaus was. Although she couldn't bring herself to complete abandon all the thoughts of Damon from her mind. She wiped the tears from her eyes and once again promised herself to be strong and smart about the whole situation. This may be her new reality but that didn't mean she was going to live by his rules and regulations. She was not going to be the obedient little trophy wife he was expecting. She was going to be a proper Forbes Queen.
Klaus was waiting near the carriage for Caroline. He had explained to her parents that once he would talk to his own parents, they would set a date for the wedding and everyone they wished to invite would be invited at the Mikaelson kingdom. Caroline hadn't spoken a word to him during the whole conversation and even when he told her that Rebekah would help her with all the details of the wedding ceremony, she merely shrugged.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Caroline came along with his older brother Finn to the carriage and stood in front of him with a raised eyebrow.
"Will you move out of the way?" Caroline asked in a bitter-sweet voice gesturing to the carriage with her hand.
"Of course. Allow me to help you" he said and opened the door of the carriage and held out his hand for her to take and to his surprise, she placed her tiny hand in his before stepping into the carriage and snatching her hand back. It was a brief contact but it made him smile. He easily slid into the carriage with her and sat opposite to her. She seemed unaffected by his presence.
"Aren't Finn and Elijah going to join us?" she asked as the carriage slowly started moving.
Klaus shook his head, "Finn and Kol are in the carriage behind us and Elijah left earlier" he answered skipping the fact that he left with Katerina. But she seemed to have picked up on it anyway.
"He left with Katherine you mean?" she questioned him with a raised eyebrow. God! How stupid did he think she was?
He merely smirked at her. She was really smart.
"She lives in the Mikaelson territory?" Caroline asked after another few minutes of silence.
Klaus nodded and laughed a little, "She lives at the castle actually but if you're uncomfortable with her presence there, she can be sent away" Klaus suggested knowing her relationship with Katherine and right now he'd do anything to get into the blonde's good graces.
Caroline shook her head with a shrug, "No. Its fine" she simply answered and looked out of the window of the carriage watching the changing scenery until she fell asleep against the wall of the carriage.
Klaus watched as Caroline slept peacefully. Her face had a natural light smile on which made him realize how hard she must try to keep that smile off her face all the time. She looked so beautiful and content. He pulled Caroline from the wall and placed her on the seat so that she wasn't leaning against the wall and simply laying comfortably. He studied her features for what seemed like centuries until he was informed that they would soon reach their destination.
Caroline was still asleep, surprisingly, because it was a very long journey. She must have been exhausted from the activities of the previous few weeks for her. He gently shook her.
"Caroline" he called out once but there was no response.
He sighed and went to sit next to her, pulling her up and shaking her slightly by her shoulders, "Sweetheart wake up" he lulled and saw as she rubbed her eyes in a very childish manner thought oddly enough he found himself liking this habit of hers.
The moment was clearly broken when Caroline cleared her throat and Klaus suddenly went back to sit into his own seat. "We'll be reaching in a few minutes. If you have any question ask away" he offered trying to clear the tension and waved his hand at her.
Caroline opened and closed her mouth many times, trying to think if it would be wise to ask him if his family was really as horrible as the rumors were but she decided against it.
"How is the Mikaelson kingdom?" she asked knowing it was a safe question and she really had no idea how people were. Her people were loving but she didn't know much about his people.
"I'm afraid it's quite opposite to yours, if that's what you mean" he said raising his eyebrows at her. "The people here treat only those well who have power and everyone crushes the weak under their feet, that is why Caroline I want you to be strong and to know that you will be the Queen and what is your place so no one dares to cross you" he advised her.
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean? The people wouldn't follow you if they weren't forced?" she asked feeling really confused. How could people not love their rulers? Were they really that harsh? People even loved Damon then how could someone hate Klaus and his entire family? Maybe they were worse.
He chuckled, "Sweetheart, the people here are different from yours but I'm sure they'll adore you anyway" he said flashing her his dimpled smile.
"Why is that?" she challenged with a hint of a smile.
"Because you're beautiful, strong and full of light" he answered straight away without breaking eye contact and smiling.
She blushed slightly under his gaze and tore her eyes from his when the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Klaus smiled at her one last time before he opened the door and stepped outside. Caroline only peeked her head ever so slightly and could see that they had definitely reached and there were some people outside. Her heart was hammering so hard in anticipation, it actually hurt. She could feel her palms getting sweaty and her breaths were labored. She shook her head and composed herself. She was going to be the Queen, she didn't need to nervous. It was her time to make the people nervous.
Klaus pulled her out of her thoughts and held his hand out for her, "Princess Caroline" he addressed formally informing her that there were people there who didn't need to know about their informality.
She composed herself once again before standing up and placing her hand into his waiting hand. Usually this was the job of the driver but apparently Klaus was very territorial.
Once she stepped out, she saw Kol, Finn, Elijah, Klaus and a couple of other people waiting for her. But among them the person that caught her eye the most was the brunette she loved more than her own friends just a week ago. Katherine Pierce.
A/N: Okay so the next chapter I promise is going to be epic. I have it written I'm just going a little editing and all. As it turns out we will be seeing Caroline's interaction with a lot of people and one hint for the coming chapters. DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. That's all you guys are gonna get. Have a great week ahead. What do you guys think of the new cover art for the story?
